By the time this inductee finished grade school, he’d probably called more ball games than some experienced sportscasters. Granted, the games he called weren’t aired on any television or radio station, but he couldn’t have been more serious about his make-believe broadcasts. This man has lived and breathed sportscasting his entire life and has proven that dreams really can come true. The Alabama Broadcasters Association is more than pleased to induct Andy Burcham into the Hall of Fame.

“I grew up listening to talk radio as a kid,” say Burcham. “My father brought home an LP of the 1967 St. Louis Cardinal highlights, and I listened to it over and over and over. And I can tell you at age six I knew that that’s what I wanted to do.”

“One of the pivotal Christmas gifts that I ever received was a brand-new RadioShack cassette tape recorder that came with the microphone. I might have been 10 or 11 when my grandmother gave me that tape recorder and I flat out wore it out.”

Burcham is a native of Nashville, Indiana and got his broadcasting degree from Indiana State University. He had a 12-year run with the Auburn Network, managed WANI, worked for Tiger Communications and Fuller Broadcasting before going to Auburn University.

He’s currently the voice of Auburn Football and the Men’s Basketball and Baseball programs and calls Women’s Basketball games – something he’s done for 31 years. In addition to his play-by-play responsibilities, Burcham hosts or co-hosts a slew of coach’s’ shows and podcasts.

Gary Fuller, former president and CEO of Fuller Broadcasting Company, says he knew early on that Burcham was going to be something special. 

“He was a little more serious about it than some of the other young people that worked with us at the radio station,” explains Fuller. “We would pick at him a little bit and tell him to lighten up, but he wanted to be good. He wanted to be great.”

Fuller says his professionalism and talent make him a perfect hall of fame inductee.

“Andy has the ability to paint word pictures of the action,” he says. “I think that’s what makes them one of the best play-by-play announcers in America because you can be court side with him at the Final Four or in the fourth quarter of the Auburn – Alabama Iron Bowl game and he has that ability to put you right there in the middle of the action. A lot of play-by-play folks would kill to have that talent.” 

“I’m humbled by this,” says Burcham. “I’ve worked in radio since I graduated from Indiana State in 1983 and it’s special because the bulk of my radio career has been in the state of Alabama. This has been my home. I’m thrilled. I really am. It means a great deal.” 

The friendships Burcham has formed along the way are also very meaningful.

“From Pat Dye to Joe Champi, to Hal Baird, to Nell Fortner, certainly Butch Thompson … all of these coaches … it can be more of a friendship than just a professional relationship,” says Burcham. 

“And there’s also a friendship between sportscasters,” says Burcham. “I’m very good friends with Chris Stewart at Alabama. I’m really good friends with David Kellum at Ole Miss, and Jeff Dansler, at Georgia. I know what they’re going through in their career and in their life because they’re spending a great deal of time away from their families, too. And they’re going through everything that I’m going through. It’s a unique fraternity.”

“I’m not kidding you; he’s one of the finest people that I’ve ever known,” say Fuller. “Integrity and honesty – that’s just a couple of his attributes. He’s the kind of guy that you like to have as a friend. He’s easy to be around and of course, if you want to talk sports, well, he’s a great one to talk sports!”